RA Will Nix Additional Voter Info Request

Reston Association’s Board of Directors is telling a member one report is enough when it comes to member voter records.

At its Thursday regular meeting, the board will likely vote to “deny and not give further consideration to Mr. Irwin Flashman’s request for an electronic copy of the 2014 Board of Director Election member voting record.”

RA president Ken Knueven said in the motion that the board will not give Flashman info it already gave him in hard copy.

In September, Flashman requested and RA released information on whether or not each of its 25,700 member households voted in the 2014 Board of Directors election. It also released members’ addresses, but omitted the substance of members’ votes and any other personal information. RA says it was obligated to release the information under its bylaws and Virginia law.

Flashman previously told Reston Now that he wanted the records so he could analyze and try to boost the number of locals who cast their ballots.

“I want to increase voter turnout,” he said. “Something has to be done, and I think before you start doing anything, you need to know what happened.”

Fewer than 15 percent of Reston households cast votes in most recent election in the 2014 election.

Knueven said earlier while the Association’s bylaws and Virginia law on property owners’ associations require the disclosure of the information, he believes “voter records are confidential and should remain such.”

“We released only information we felt was not confidential.”

Meanwhile, applications are being accepted through Jan. 30 for the 2015 RA Board of Directors election. Four seats — two at-large, North Point and South Lakes — are up for re-election.

Additionally, tonight’s board meeting will feature public hearings on a referendum for the RELAC system for 300+ Lake Anne Area homes and on the 2015 budget and assessments.

Photo: Reston Association Board meeting/Credit: RA